Case study – Inspector Roger Pegram

​Roger is an inspector with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and has been an officer for 18 years.

He is responsible for a team of 50 evidence-based champions within GMP and explains how he balanced studying for a qualification with working full-time.

Why did you want to get an academic qualification while working as a police officer?

I joined the police in March 2000 and my qualifications at the time were four GCSEs at grade C and above and a GNVQ in Leisure and Tourism. At the start of my career, I worked in a variety of difference uniformed and plain-clothes roles.

In 2009, I wanted further qualifications so I started my journey because I thought it would be a good thing to help progress my career. I wanted to understand more about what led people to come into contact with the police and what happened to them after we arrested them. The more I have learnt, the more I have wanted to find out. I've got the bug now and I've been in further education for different qualifications non-stop since.

What's the benefit of doing it this way?

The process may allow you to cut down the length and cost of studying by starting an academic course or learning programme part-way through, and you may not have to complete certain modules.

Will serving officers and staff have to get a degree to continue in their current role?

Serving officers and staff don't need to get a degree. Recognising that officers work at degree level doesn't mean they need a qualification to stay in their current role, but they can use their experience to get one if they want.

Will you need a degree to get promoted to sergeant or beyond?

A consultation on the education provisions for sergeant to chief officer ranks has recently been completed and results will be released by early 2019.

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